A project to physically join the PLAZA and COURT malls got underway in January 2013. A 140,000 square foot connecting structure (dark gray) would house inline stores and include a third mall food court. The project was completed in August 2016.
KING OF PRUSSIA
West Delkalb Pike / US 202 and Goddard (Mall) Boulevard
Montgomery County (Town of Upper Merion), Pennsylvania
Indianapolis' Simon Property Group established an eighty percent share in Kravco Investments in November 2003, with the name of the entity being changed to Kravco Simon Investments. This company owned the PLAZA and COURT malls.
Remodeling projects at the PLAZA property involved a renovation of The Garden Food Court (carried out between January and June of 2011) and an interior face lift of J.C. Penney. In September 2006, the octagonal anchor store in the PLAZA was rebranded as a second Macy's location, known as Macy's Plaza.
This store was shuttered in July 2007. It was demolished in July 2011, with a 2-level (100,000 square foot) section of stores being built in the space. The ten-tenant addition featured a remodeled mall entrance, expanded parking garage and new locations for Forever 21 and H & M.
In August 2011, the Simon Property Group established a 96 percent ownership share in the two KING OF PRUSSIA MALLS...removing most involvement of the Kravco entity. In November, they announced an expansion of the malls which got underway in January 2013.
The two retail hubs were physically connected via a forty-eight-store
structure. This encompassed 140,000 leasable square feet and include the upscale Savor Food Court. The merged mall was officially dedicated on August 18, 2016. It now encompassed approximately 2,651,600 leasable square feet, with a retail roster of over 400 stores and services. A new name had been also been bequeathed; KING OF PRUSSIA.
As the expansion was being built, a major anchor store change took place. Sears Holdings announced, in January 2014, that they would be leasing 75,000 square feet of the upper level of the KING OF PRUSSIA Sears to Dick's Sporting Goods. This store held its grand opening November 7, 2014. Sears, by then downsized into its lower level, closed for good in January 2015.
Irish fashion retailer Primark renovated a 2-level (80,700 square foot) section and opened for business on November 25, 2015. This was the first United States location for Primark, which operated over 250 stores in eleven Western European nations. By 2018, the chain expected to have seven stores in operation in the United States.
Another anchor alteration played out in 2017. Plano, Texas' J.C. Penney chain announced the closing of 120 mall-based stores in March. The KING OF PRUSSIA store, a tenant since August 1963, was among these. A liquidation sale commenced April 17, with the store going dark in June.
Another anchor alteration played out in 2017. Plano, Texas' J.C. Penney chain announced the closing of 120 mall-based stores in March. The KING OF PRUSSIA store, a tenant since August 1963, was among these. A liquidation sale commenced April 17, with the store going dark in June.
Lord & Taylor shuttered their KING OF PRUSSIA store on February 27, 2021. The building is being renovated by the Netflix streaming service. They are creating Netflix House, an experiential entertainment venue. The 120,000 square foot facility will include show-themed set replicas and restaurants, escape rooms, mixed reality games, a playground, theater and gift shop. Netflix House will open two locations during 2025; one at the KOP mall and another at GALLERIA DALLAS.
Sources:
Sources:
The Philadelphia Inquirer
J.C. Penney Company Annual Report 1963
http://www.philadex.com
"Paradox Unbound, My Pilgrimage To King Of Prussia Plaza" / Mitch Glaser http://www.mitchglaser.com
https://tehistory.org / Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives / April 1991
http://www.mainlinemedianews.com
http://www.bizjournals.com / Peter Van Allen
Comment posts by David Meehan , "Go Nordrike!" and Matthew Terry
http://www.primark.com
http://www.cinematreasures.org
"King Of Prussia Plaza" and "Court At King Of Prussia" articles on Wikipedia
